Sterilization Indicators Market By Type (Chemical (External and Internal), & Biological Indicators), by Sterilization Method (Chemical and Physical Sterilization), by End Users (Hospitals, Pharmaceuticals, Medical Devices and Biotech Companies, Clinical Laboratories, Research and Academia, Food and Beverages Industries & Others) - Growth, Future Prospects & Competitive Analysis, 2018 – 2026

Industry Outlook

The growth in demand for sterilization indicators is expected to be driven by the growing emphasis on refurbishing and reprocessing medical devices to tackle the growing healthcare expenses and the increasing demand for safe food and drugs. Technological advancements in the reprocessing of endoscopes and laboratory analyzers will contribute to an increased requirement for sterilization supplies compatible with these processes. The market for sterilization indicators is also benefiting significantly from the increasing implementation of stringent standards for the preservation of high-quality and safe-to-consume food products. Increased stringency in medical safety and infection control regulations has increased public awareness, supporting the growth of this market. In the coming years, further implementation of government initiatives to incorporate advanced sterilization standards in hospitals and clinical laboratories is anticipated to boost market growth opportunities. Rising demand for reusable surgical instruments and the growing number of surgical procedures will also augment market growth.

North America is the largest market for sterilization indicators due to the growing number of surgical procedures in the region and the increasing need to control healthcare expenditures. The North American market is also characterized by the presence of a significantly large consumer base and an advanced healthcare infrastructure. Additionally, the Asia-Pacific market will witness high growth during the forecast period. The rising prevalence of healthcare-associated infections and expanding biotechnology research activities are expected to fuel the Asia-Pacific market's expansion. Furthermore, an increase in the number of pharmaceutical companies and CROs and perpetual growth in the food and beverage industry will also drive market growth in this region. The global market for sterilization indicators is characterized by the widespread presence of manufacturers across all operating scales. Market participants have been observed aggressively focusing on the rapid commercialization of novel products in order to maintain their market position.

Market Synopsis

Biological indicators are the major contributors to the global market.

In the base year 2017, biological indicators comprising self-contained vials, spore strips, spore ampoules, and spore suspensions occupied the largest revenue share. These products deliver reliable results as opposed to chemical indicator products and are considered the gold standard for sterilization verification. Among the considered biological indicators, spore ampoules are the most widely used, particularly in research settings and steam sterilization. These products are ideal for monitoring liquid sterilization sterility, but they can also be used to monitor dry loads. Comparable costs, an imperative status, and greater demand are the key factors supporting the market position of the spore ampoules segment. On the other hand, chemical indicators have prominent adoption in ethylene oxide sterilization. Among the several types of chemical indicators, class 1 indicators occupy the largest revenue share.

Indicators for Physical Sterilization to Spearhead the Global Sterilization Indicators Market

Physical sterilization is the most widely used and reliable method for sterilization across all major applications. Durables such as instruments and systems are sterilized with a physical process. Among the various types of physical sterilization methods, such as heat, vibration, radiation, and filtration, the demand for heat sterilization will always be the highest. The heat sterilization method is the most effective in eliminating cell constituents and enzymes and is highly effective in a hydrated state. Dry heat sterilization is also widely applied and finds ample usage in the sterilization of thermostable products. Chemical sterilization, though widely used, faces certain challenges, such as the possibility of a reaction of the sterilant with the polymer material being sterilized, the toxicity of residual chemicals, and issues with respect to operator safety.

Hospitals will have the highest demand for sterilization indicators.

At present, hospitals are the largest revenue-contributing segment in the global sterilization indicators market. It is further expected that this segment will retain its lead through the forecast period. The need for repeated sterilization procedures for maintaining aseptic conditions, a requirement to prevent the incidence of hospital-acquired infections, and cost containment are the prime contributors to the prominent position of hospitals in the healthcare segment. This has also led to the high consumption of a wide range of sterilization indicators and equipment in the segment. Furthermore, the share of steam sterilization is the largest in the hospital segment. On the other hand, the demand for sterilization indicators is set to further augment the food and beverage industry. As the global population is increasing, the demand for food products is expected to rise correspondingly. The changes in dietary habits have also resulted in increased demand for processed foods that are safe to consume. As a result, there is a greater need for advanced and precise sterilization processes in food and beverage manufacturing.

Local players are widely present to define market trends.

The global market for sterilization indicators is characterized by the presence of a multitude of manufacturers and suppliers. Furthermore, the presence of local players is also a characteristic feature of this market. The developed regions, such as North America and Western Europe, have a prominent presence of international market giants that are also headquartered in these regions. North America is also characterized by the widespread presence of hospitals, healthcare facilities, food product manufacturers, research institutions, and pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers. This has also resulted in high demand and, therefore, the dominant status of the region in the sterilization indicator market. Additionally, Asia Pacific is estimated to witness rapid market growth. India and China are the largest manufacturers of sterilization indicators and have a significant position in the local markets. Consumers in the region also have a prominent inclination towards buying from local suppliers for reasons of cost containment. This has led to intensified competition among local and international players. The booming medical tourism, contract development, and manufacturing industries in Asia Pacific have also led to an increase in demand for sterilization indicators in the region.

Periods of History and Forecast

This research report presents the analysis of each considered segment for the period from 2016 to 2026, using 2017 as the base year for estimations. Compounded annual growth rates (CAGRs) for each segment are calculated for the forecast period from 2018 to 2026.

Report Scope by Segments

The sterilization indicators market report provides a quantitative assessment of the industry in terms of current and forecasted market size while also presenting the market dynamics. This market is segmented based on type, sterilization method, end users, and geography.

Along with quantitative market analysis in terms of market size, this report also includes qualitative insights pertaining to the global sterilization indicators market. The major market dynamics, such as drivers, challenges, and opportunities, are studied in this report, giving insights into the current and anticipated market trends. This study also analyses the market positions and profiles of key companies operating in this industry. The major market players profiled in this research report include 3M Company, Getinge Infection Control, VWR International, Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC, STERIS PLC, Fisher Scientific UK Ltd., Cantel Medical Corp., Propper Manufacturing Co. Inc., Mesa Laboratories, Inc., Cardinal Health, Inc., Medisafe UK Limited, and Crosstex International, Inc.

Key questions are answered in this report.

• What is the current and estimated size of the global sterilization indicators market through the period 2016–2026?
• What is the anticipated market growth rate of the sterilization indicators industry during the forecast period from 2018 to 2026?
• Which are the major market drivers supporting the growth of this market, along with the prime pain points?
• What is the current market position of the external and internal chemical indicator segments?
• Will the prominence of the steam sterilization method be challenged by the growth of the ethylene oxide sterilization method?
• How will the food and beverage segment enjoy growing prominence during the forecast period?
• How is the Asia-Pacific market challenging the dominant position of North America?
• How is the global competition progressing among the key market players?
• How prominent is the position of local manufacturers in the global market for sterilization indicators?

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